Spring 2007
The Assessment Committee was
formed at the end of the fall semester (2006) by President Ryerson. Its charge
is as follows:
The Wells College Assessment Committee is charged with the development,
implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive campus-wide assessment
program. With the College mission statement as its guiding force, the Committee
is responsible for supporting all areas of the College as they reflect on their
effectiveness of achieving their respective goals. For the academic programs
(including majors, the First-Year Experience, and the General Education
distribution requirements), student learning outcomes will be the focus of the
assessment plan and process. And while student learning goals will also be
considered in the academic support areas (such as Advising, Disability
Services, Library, Career Services, and Off Campus Study) and student life
(including athletics and residential life), administrative effectiveness goals
will be assessed as well. Such goals will also be the focus of Admissions,
Business Services, External Relations, Financial Aid, Registrar, and Student
Affairs more broadly.
The approach of the Committee shall not be one that dictates
missions or assessment methodologies, but rather shall be one that supports
those involved to articulate their goals, objectives, and assessment measures.
For all involved, their work must be guided by the College’s mission statement
and ultimately student learning and development.
The Committee will review annually assessment reports from each
department/area and be responsible for monitoring and reporting to the
appropriate on-campus and off-campus constituents the changes that occur as a
result of the assessment process.
The Committee’s membership includes the following (representatives
serving at the invitation of the President):
One member from the Academic Program and
Policy Committee (Jeanne Goddard)
One faculty member from each of the four
academic divisions (William Ganis, Jackie Schnurr, and Susan Talbot; Humanities
vacant)
Two students --one from Collegiate Cabinet (Whitney
McPherson) and one at large (vacant)
Associate Dean of the College (Cindy Speaker)
One representative from student academic
support services (Muriel Godbout)
Two representatives from Dean of Students
area -- one specifically regarding residential
life (Anne Lundquist; Residential Life vacant)
One External Relations representative (Pam Sheradin)
One Admissions representative (Megan Ryan)
One Senior Staff representative (Meredith VanDuyne)
The Committee held its first
meeting on February 7, 2007 and has met a total of 10 times thus far and will
hold its final meeting tomorrow. The Committee has reviewed all the draft
assessment plans submitted by the academic programs and provided feedback.
Members of the Committee have also met with programs as they have begun working
on their revisions to their plans that are due on September 7,2007. Additionally, the Committee just completed
its review of the draft plans received from the academic support areas and is
in the process of providing those areas with feedback.
Along with the review of the
draft plans, the Committee has been working on developing two instruments for
use. The first is a rubric to help groups when developing and revising
assessment plans. The second is an annual reporting mechanism. Both should be
finalized at our last meeting and will be shared with faculty before the
semester comes to a close.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Speaker
Associate Dean of the College
Chair, Assessment Committee